Individual braid accessory with bead stopper

ABSTRACT

A hair accessory includes a hair fastener portion, an elongated portion and a bead retaining portion. The hair fastener portion fastens the hair accessory to a hair braid; the elongated portion is able to be braided into the hair braid; and the bead retaining portion holds beads in place in the hair braid. The hair accessory negates a need for rubber bands for holding the beads, is easily removable without causing hair damage/tangling, reusable and easy to use with any hair length and any standard bead size.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/345,234 filed May 24, 2022, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of hair accessories of existing art and more specifically relates to a hair accessory for fastening and retaining beads on a hair braid.

RELATED ART

Hair braids are a hairstyle formed by interweaving or ‘braiding’ three or more sections of hair. Styles of hair braids can range from simple to complex and can include a variety of different features and sizes depending on the amount of hair used in each of the three or more sections of hair. Sometimes individuals add beads onto the hair braid to provide a decorative and colorful appearance thereto.

Frequently, when adding beads to braided hair, a small rubber band is used to secure the last bead so that all the beads do not fall off the hair braid. Typically, the hair at the end of the hair braid is folded upwards and wrapped around the side of the final bead and a rubber band is tightly wound multiple times around the end of the braid and the hair between the second to last and the final bead. However, this method of securement is not satisfactory as the rubber bands put unwanted pressure on the hair and they often break, rendering them ineffective and causing the beads to fall off. Thus, a suitable solution is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known hair accessory art, the present disclosure provides a novel hair braid accessory with bead stopper. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a hair accessory used particularly for holding beads on a hair braid without causing strain on the hair.

A hair accessory is disclosed herein. The hair accessory may include a hair fastener portion, an elongated portion and a bead retaining portion. The hair fastener portion may be configured to fasten to the hair, toward (or at) the top of the hair braid. The elongated portion may be attached to the hair fastener portion and may include sufficient flexibility to enable the elongated portion to be seamlessly braided into the hair braid. The bead retaining portion may be attached to the elongated portion and configured to fasten underneath a final bead toward (or at) the bottom of the hair braid such that the beads are held on the hair braid.

According to another embodiment, a hair accessory may include a hair fastener portion including a first flexible material formed into a coil and configured to be wound onto the hair, toward (or at) the top of the hair braid. An elongated portion may be attached to the hair fastener portion and may include a second flexible material able to be seamlessly braided into the hair braid. A bead retaining portion may be attached to the elongated portion and may include a third flexible material formed into a loop and configured to be bent (or otherwise manipulated) underneath a final bead located toward (or at) the bottom of the hair braid such that the beads are held on the hair braid.

According to another embodiment, a method of using a hair accessory for retaining beads on a hair braid is also disclosed herein. The method may comprise the steps of: providing the hair accessory as above; fastening the hair fastener portion to the hair toward (or at) the top of the hair braid; braiding the elongated portion into the hair braid whilst braiding the hair; attaching the beads to the hair braid; and manipulating the bead retaining portion underneath a final bead located toward (or at) the bottom of the hair braid, thereby holding the beads on the hair braid.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a hair braid accessory with bead stopper, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a hair accessory including a hair fastener portion attached to the hair toward the top of the hair braid, an elongated portion braided into the hair braid, and a bead retaining portion bent underneath a final bead to hold the beads on the hair braid, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a hair accessory illustrating the bead retaining portion being unfolded, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the hair accessory illustrating the bead retaining portion including a loop, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the hair accessory illustrating the hair fastener portion being coiled, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the hair accessory illustrating the elongated portion not braided into the hair braid and instead suspended alongside the hair braid, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using a hair accessory for retaining beads on a hair braid, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a hair braid accessory with bead stopper. Generally, the hair braid accessory may include a fine, low gauge wire located at either end thereof and a fine plastic-like thread located between each end. The hair accessory may be used for retaining beads on a hair braid. Particularly, the hair accessory may hold hair beads in place without the need for rubber bands. The hair accessory may be easily removable without causing hair damage/tangling and may be reusable, easy to use and useable with any hair length and any standard bead size.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-5 , various views of a hair accessory for retaining beads on a hair braid (“hair accessory” 100). As shown in these figures, the hair accessory 100 may include a hair fastener portion 110, an elongated portion 120, and a bead retaining portion 130.

The hair accessory 100 may be used for aiding in application of beads 5 onto hair of a user. Particularly, as shown in FIGS. 1-2 , the hair accessory 100 may (in some embodiments) be braided into the hair braid 10 and may hold the beads 5 on the hair braid 10, without causing strain on the hair. As shown, one hair accessory 100 may be used per hair braid 10. In some examples, the hair accessory 100 may also hold the hair braid 10 together. The elongated portion 120 and some portions of the hair fastener portion 110 and the bead retaining portion 130 are shown in FIGS. 1-2 and FIG. 5 in broken lines to show that these portions are fastened to hair/underneath the beads 5.

Further, in some embodiments, the hair accessory 100 may include a variety of colors to match the hair, to match the beads 5, etc.; In addition, as shown in these figures, in some embodiments the hair accessory 100 may be of unitary construction—in that the hair fastener portion 110, the elongated portion 120, and the bead retaining portion 130 are fixed together as one single piece.

As shown in FIGS. 1-2 , the hair fastener portion 110 may be configured to fasten to the hair, toward a top 11 of the hair braid 10. For example, the hair fastener portion 110 may fasten at the top 11 of the hair braid 10 (i.e., fastened to the hair prior to beginning the hair braid 10). In other examples, the hair fastener portion 110 may attach at a mid-point of the hair braid 10. As such the hair fastener portion 110 may define a top end of the hair accessory 100.

To facilitate the fastening of the hair fastener portion 110, the hair fastener portion 110 may include a first flexible material 111. For example, the first flexible material 111 may include (but is not limited to) a low gauge wire that is easily bendable but keeps its shape when bent so that it can be reused. In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3-4 , the hair fastener portion 110 may be coiled and configured to be wound (or otherwise manipulated) into the hair/hair braid 10 and/or inserted or ‘pierced’ (not illustrated) into the hair/hair braid 10. To facilitate the insertion of the hair fastener portion 110 into the hair, the hair fastener portion 110 may include a rounded tip 112, as shown in FIG. 3 .

The elongated portion 120 may be attached to the hair fastener portion 110. Again, this may be a fixed attachment. In particular, the elongated portion 120 may be seamlessly attached to the hair fastener portion 110 and the bead retaining portion 130. For example, the elongated portion, the hair fastener portion 110 and the bead retaining portion 130 may include the same color, as discussed above.

The elongated portion 120 may include a flexibility sufficient to enable the elongated portion 120 to be seamlessly braided into the hair braid 10, as shown in FIGS. 1-2 . Particularly, in some embodiments once the hair fastener portion 110 is secured into the hair, the user may then begin to braid the hair (forming the hair braid 10) and braid the elongated portion 120 into the hair braid 10 whilst braiding the hair. Accordingly, the elongated portion 120 may include a second flexible material 121; for example, the second flexible material 121 may include (but is not limited to) a fine thread, which may, in some embodiments, be plastic or plastic-like. In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5 , the elongated portion 120 may not be braided into the hair braid instead, the elongated portion 120 may be suspended alongside the hair braid 10.

The bead retaining portion 130 may be attached to the elongated portion 120. As above, this may be a fixed attachment. The bead retaining portion 130 may be configured to fasten underneath a final bead 6 (i.e., the bottom most bead) toward, or at, the bottom 12 of the hair braid such that the beads 5 are held in the hair braid 10. As such, the bead retaining portion 130 may define a bottom end of the hair accessory 100.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4 , in some embodiments the bead retaining portion 130 may include a loop 132 configured to be bent underneath the final bead 6. Accordingly, the bead retaining portion 130 may include a third flexible material 131. For example, the third flexible material 131 may include (but is not limited to) a low gauge wire, similar or same as the low gauge wire discussed above for the hair fastener portion 110. Thus, the third flexible material 131 may be easily bendable but keeps its shape when bent so that it can be reused. As such, when the final bead 6 has been placed onto the hair braid 10, the bead retaining portion 130 may be bent (by the user) under the final bead 6 to hold it, the other beads 5 and the hair braid 10 in place. In other embodiments, a hook may be provided (not illustrated) for hooking onto the loop 132 and holding the final bead 6.

In some embodiments, the elongated portion 120, the hair fastener portion 110 and the bead retaining portion 130 may be coated. Further, as above, the hair fastener portion 110, the elongated portion 120, and the bead retaining portion 130 may include the same color. Preferably, the hair accessory 100 may be provided in a variety of colors. For example, the colors may be hair colors, bright colors, patterns, etc. The hair accessory 100 may be 4.5 inches long as measured from a top of the hair fastener portion 110 to a bottom of the bead retaining portion 130. However, it should be appreciated that the hair accessory 100 is not limited to this length. For example, in some embodiments, the hair accessory 100 may be provided in a variety of lengths (for a variety of hair lengths).

Referring now to FIG. 6 showing a flow diagram illustrating a method of using a hair accessory for retaining beads on a hair braid (“method” 200), according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method 200 may include one or more components or features of the hair accessory 100 as described above. As illustrated, the method 200 may include the steps of: step one 201, providing the hair accessory; step two 202, fastening the hair fastener portion to the hair, toward the top of the hair braid; step three 203, braiding the elongated portion into the hair braid whilst braiding the hair; step four 204, attaching the beads to the hair braid; and step five 205, manipulating the bead retaining portion underneath a final bead located toward the bottom of the hair braid, thereby holding the beads on the hair braid. As above, the step 205 of manipulating the bead retaining portion underneath the final bead may include bending the bead retaining portion underneath the final bead. The beads may be added to the hair braid during braiding or they may be added once fully braided.

Further, the method 200 may comprise the steps of removing the hair accessory from the hair braid. Particularly, step six 206, unfolding the bead retaining portion from underneath the final bead; step seven 207, removing the beads from the hair braid; step eight 208, undoing the hair braid; step nine 209, unfastening the hair fastener portion from the hair; and step ten 210, pulling the hair accessory from the hair. In some embodiments, the pulling of the hair accessory may remove the beads and the hair accessory. Alternatively, the beads may be removed when undoing the hair braid.

It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference or may not be implemented in all cases. For example, as discussed above and shown in FIG. 5 , in some embodiments the elongated portion may not be braided through the hair braid. It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods are taught herein.

It should be understood by one of skill in the art that the disclosed invention is described here in a few exemplary embodiments of many. No particular terminology or description should be considered limiting on the disclosure or the scope of any claims issuing therefrom.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the relevant patent offices and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair accessory for retaining beads on a hair braid, the hair accessory comprising: a hair fastener portion configured to fasten to the hair, toward a top of the hair braid; an elongated portion attached to the hair fastener portion, the elongated portion of a sufficient flexibility to enable the elongated portion to be seamlessly braided into the hair braid; and a bead retaining portion attached to the elongated portion, the bead retaining portion configured to fasten underneath a final bead located toward a bottom of the hair braid such that the beads are held on the hair braid.
 2. The hair accessory of claim 1, wherein the hair fastener portion includes a first flexible material, wherein the elongated portion includes a second flexible material and wherein the bead retaining portion includes a third flexible material.
 3. The hair accessory of claim 2, wherein the first flexible material and the third flexible material is a low gauge wire.
 4. The hair accessory of claim 3, wherein the second flexible material is a plastic thread.
 5. The hair accessory of claim 4, wherein the hair fastener portion is coiled.
 6. The hair accessory of claim 5, wherein the bead retaining portion includes a loop configured to be bent underneath the final bead.
 7. The hair accessory of claim 6, wherein the hair fastener portion includes a rounded tip.
 8. The hair accessory of claim 7, wherein the hair fastener portion, the elongated portion and the bead retaining portion are fixed together.
 9. A hair accessory for retaining beads on a hair braid, the hair accessory comprising: a hair fastener portion including a first flexible material formed into a coil and configured to fasten into the hair, toward a top of the hair braid; an elongated portion attached to the hair fastener portion, the elongated portion including a second flexible material elongated able to be seamlessly braided into the hair braid; and a bead retaining portion attached to the elongated portion, the bead retaining portion including a third flexible material formed into a loop and configured to be bent underneath a final bead located toward a bottom of the hair braid such that the beads are held in the hair braid.
 10. The hair accessory of claim 9, wherein the first flexible material and the third flexible material is a low gauge wire.
 11. The hair accessory of claim 10, wherein the second flexible material is a plastic thread.
 12. The hair accessory of claim 11, wherein the hair fastener portion includes a rounded tip.
 13. The hair accessory of claim 12, wherein the hair fastener portion, the elongated portion and the bead retaining portion are fixed together.
 14. A method of using a hair accessory for retaining beads on a hair braid, the method comprising the steps of: providing the hair accessory including: a hair fastener portion; an elongated portion attached to the hair fastener portion, the elongated portion of a sufficient flexibility to enable the elongated portion to be seamlessly braided into the hair braid; and a bead retaining portion attached to the elongated portion; fastening the hair fastener portion to the hair, toward a top of the hair braid; braiding the elongated portion into the hair braid whilst braiding the hair; attaching the beads to the hair braid; and manipulating the bead retaining portion underneath a final bead located toward a bottom of the hair braid, thereby holding the beads on the hair braid.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of manipulating the bead retaining portion underneath the final bead includes the step of: bending the bead retaining portion underneath the final bead.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of removing the hair accessory from the hair braid: unfolding the bead retaining portion from underneath the final bead; removing the beads from the hair braid; undoing the hair braid; unfastening the hair fastener portion from the hair; and pulling the hair accessory from the hair. 